Dietschiberg forest edge improvement
Realized:
2022
performed by:
Naturnetz Mittelland
Forest edges are among the most neglected habitats in the Swiss plateau. A high and dense wall of beech or spruce trees usually borders the open land. In this state, the forest edges have little benefit for biodiversity. Natural forest edges, however, are home to open areas flooded with sunlight, as well as dense undergrowth and old, tall trees. In this diverse environment, many different types of woody plants and herbaceous plants find ideal growth conditions and many different animal species find food and habitat.
As part of a sand lizard promotion project co-financed by the Albert Koechlin Foundation, the forest edges of the city of Lucerne were also examined for their ecological improvement potential. The Dietschiberg forest edge improvement project was created in collaboration with the Seetal-Habsburg forest, the Carabus nature conservation office and the nature and landscape protection department of the city of Lucerne. The south-facing forest edge on the Hombrig, adjacent to the Dietschiberg golf course, had great potential for improvement. In addition to species-rich deciduous tree vegetation, this forest edge also had areas with a pronounced shrub layer. Species-rich meadows also grow between the golf greens and the forest edge.
The forest edge was to be upgraded to around 500 linear meters. In order to thin out the forest cover and reduce the level of cover, a local forestry company (kretzforestry) carried out wood harvesting work as a first step. The forestry experts felled larger trees that had been marked beforehand and transported them away for the wood to be used. A large part of the resulting branches and individual large tree trunks were left where they were.
Now it was the turn of the Naturnetz volunteers.
They cut back the shrub layer species-specifically with chainsaws and pruning shears
They removed Armenian blackberries, cherry laurel and other neophytes with Pickel and Habegger
pushed back strongly rampant shrub vegetation (e.g. larger privet mono-stands) in favor of slow-growing species (e.g. hawthorn) with chainsaw and pickaxe
created countless small structures aimed at the sand lizard from the available wood material.
With the resulting bays, light and shady areas, structures, etc., a forest edge that is valuable for biodiversity has been created. In addition to the sand lizard, numerous other species will also find a new habitat here. We are excited about the results of the success control, which is expected to be carried out in 2023/2024.